Congratulations! My husband proposed without a ring. We actually bought a zirconia because he felt strongly he wanted a ring on my finger, and I felt strongly I didn’t want anything we could not pay for in full, and I did not want some rinky dink diamond. We did get matching wedding bands, he wanting them matching, custom made by a friend who is a jeweler, just two types of gold intertwined, less than $150 each at the time. After years of marriage I have a diamond ring I love love love that he bought me spur of the moment when I happened to see it in a jewelry store, we were married about 11 years at the time. It is yellow gold with lots of little diamonds. I also have a diamond engagement ring I inherited that I wear, it is beautiful, platinum, so I use whichever ring matches what I am wearing. I rarely wear that original zirconia, but I still wear my orignal wedding band at times, I still love it.
My advice is get off on the right foot with your marriage and don’t go into debt for a ring. Don’t go into debt for anything.
Has she voiced at all what type of ring she wants? Does she generally wear gold or siilver? Most Americans don’t buy yellow gold engagement rings, but my yellow gold ring gets tons of compliments. It looks sort of Asian. If you get yellow gold make sure it is at least 18k, don’t buy 14k. You said “we” decided on wedding bands. Pick them out together, it doesn’t have to be a surprise.